Upholstery construction



June`l5, 1937.

vA. M. BANK UPHOLSTERY CONSTRUCTION n Original Filed'rJuly 20, 1929 df 1g- /4 A IVENTOR I M )a M I? I i ToRNEY Reiuued June 15, 1937 Y Re. 20,496

UrnoLs'rEhY. coNs'rnUc'rroN- Albert M. Bank, Jersey City, N. J., assigner to Sylvia Bank, Jersey City, N. J.

Original No. 1,894,262, dated vJanuary 17, 1933, Serial No. 379,686, July 20, 1929. Application for reissue January 16, 1935, Serial No. 2,053

12 Claims.

This invention relates to upholstery construction such as seat structure for chairs, couches, and the like articles.

An object of this invention is to provide structure of the character described having means for preventing the webbing from stripping or giving way at the points where the facing is secured to the seat frame. y

Another object of this invention is to provide practical and eillcient means auxiliary to the usual foundation springs for adding to the cushioning effect and comfort of the seat.

A further object of this invention is to provide structure of the character described having sup- 1'5 plementary supporting means for'adding to'the strength of the seat.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in. a. seat of the character described, means for permitting a relatively large deflection or give 2G for addingto the comfort of the seat and yet preventing the underside of the seat from bellying or extending below the frame. Still another object of this invention is to provide in structure of thecharacter described im- .proved means for supporting the foundation springs whereby strain on the webbing is relieved.

A- ystill furtherobject of this invention is to provide a. compact and rugged structure of the character described which shall be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and which shall yet be practical and eilicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements,

and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, andv of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims. y

In' the accompanying drawing, in which shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a chair frame having a seat made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the chair shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line` Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional 50 view taken through the front wall of the frame and illustrating the means for fastening the lower end of the foundation springs to said wall;

Fig. 5 is anelevational, cross-sectional View of the rear portion of a chair frame, showing a mod- 55 'iiled'constructionof the seat structure and Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, IU f designates the bottom portion of a chair provided with a seat structure made in accordance with .the invention. The chair comprises a frame II having a front wall I2, a rear wall Il and side walls I6 and IIand is supported by legs I8 of any suitable construction. 'I'he frame Il is here shown, for the purposes of illustration only, as a u chair frame, it being understoodthalt the invenledges thereof and around the entire perimeter thereof to the vbottom edge portion or underside I9 of the frame I l as by tacks 2 Ia or in any other `suitable manner, is a webbing 20, preferably in the form of a one-'piece webbing made of canvas,y

burlap or the like material. Mounted on the webbing are the usual suitable spaced compression, foundation springs 22 attached at their lower ends to said webbing in any suitable .manner to prevent'shifting of said springs, and interconnected at the upper ends thereof by the usual cross cords 24 and by a metal frame 25 having portions 26 engaging the upper convolutions of said springs, or in any other suitable manner. A U-shaped wire 28 is secured to the inner side of the side Walls I6, I'I and rear wall I4, somewhat above the lower edge portions I9 thereof to bring the edge portions 29 of the webbing into contact with the inner surface of said side and rear walls, and thus raise the level of the webbing above the plane of said lower edge portion I9 of the frame. This construction permits a substantial deflection of the webbing andi yet prevents formation of a belly on the underside of the seat below the frame II. The end portion 32 of the webbing adjacent the front wail I2, however, may extend towards the bottom edge portion I9 of said front. wall.

It will now be clear that with the construction described thus fan-the webbing is fixed to the frame on all four sides thereof and weight placed on the Vseat will cause the usual springs 22 to be4 compressed and the strain thereby transferred to the webbing. With seat constructions now in use. wherein the webbing takes the entire weightapplied to the springs, a great strain is thereby imposed on the tacks or other means fastening the webbing to the frame, thus often causing stripping of the webbing at the point where same is fastened to the frame. For substantially obviating this ditliculty, I have provided means for end, a pair of straps or brackets 33 are secured in aligned relation tosl pair of opposite walls of the chair, such as the front and rear walls I2 and i4. Each of said straps 35 is provided with a portion 36, preferably secured to the top edge 31 of said walls, and with a depending portion 33 having an inward extension 39. Dependingly secured to each of said extensions` 39 is a strong,l

portions thereof through which the rod 45 passes.

Thus, the main or central portion of the rod extends beneath the webbing 20 and support interl mediate portions of the webbing whereas the outer ends 4i of said rod extend through said slits for connection to the helical springs 40. As shown for the purpose of illustration only, in Figs, 1 and 2, a pair of parallel rods 4l are used, it being understood however, that any number of such rods arranged in any suitable manner may be provided. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the rods 45 are normally on a higher level than the wire 2B, thus lifting the webbing above said level and permitting deflection thereof below said level.

I The level of w'lre 23 is preferably suchthat the belly or sag caused by imposing weight on the seat will not protrude below the lower edge of the frame il.

It will now be-seen that upon imposing weight. on the seat, 4 compression of the foundation springs 22 beyond a certain point will cause stretching of the tension helical springs 40, such latter springs -thus taking up part of the load imposed onl the seat and hence relieving strain on the webbing. Since the springs 4l may be stretched in addition to the complete compression of foundation springs 22, the' seat has great resiliency or cushioning eil'ect. This action of the springs is permitted since the webbing 2l extends above the level of the wire and may be' deected.

or sagged a substantially equal amount below said level.

For further relieving strain on -the webbing and to prevent the formation of a belly thereon,as for instance. at the front of the seat. a ,number of hooks Il are attached to the inner surface of front frame wall I2, as by fastening. means Il, said hooks having portions l! engaging the low- -ermost convolutions I3 of said springs 33. Downward pressure on said foundation springs hence is partially taken up by the hooks Il, thus further relieving strain from the webbing.

Ic wiube noted that since the rods as nev r0 tatabiy liournalled in the eyelets 4! which' act as bearings therefor, side sway of the webbingsuch as uskualiy occurs in upholstery of this character,

couches for instance, will cause the rodsto rotate slightly, friction or rubbing contact between the rods and webbing thus being substantially eliminated. Wear on said webbing and tearing thereof isthereby prevented, thus adding to the life`oi' the upholstery.

Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing illustrate a modi-v fied construction in accordance `f1'vith which the helical tension springs 43a t9 springs 4I of, said rod normally being in a plane above 'relieving strain on the webbing and for partially carrying the load impressed on the seat. To this are connected at the lower portions thereof to a rod Gil transverse to the rods 45. Said rods 4l may in turn be xedly mounted at the end portions thereofl to said transverse rod 60. With this construction the spring 43 and rods may be distributed as required. In incorporating the seat structure herein described into a couch for instance. a lesser number of rods 45 may be provided than springs 40a or vice versa. In accordance with this modified construction, the rods 45 may be secured to the webbing 20, as by loops 6I `or in any other suitable manner. thus preventing side sway of the webbing. f

Itvwill thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth,

it isto be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus describedmy invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentz- 1. In upholstery construction of the character described, a frame, one piece webbing ilxed at all four sides thereof to said frame, and means for maintaining said webbing out of the plane of the underside' portion of said frame, said means comprising a rod, resilient means engaging the ends of said rod for resiliently suspending the same, from opposite sides of said frame, said rod engaging an intermediate portion of said web- 2. In upholstery of the character described, a

frame, a one piece webbing secured directly to,

said frame and a rod resiliently suspended from saidframe and having a portion extending thru openings in said webbing and contacting the underside thereof. i l

3. In upholstery of the character described a frame, a one piece webbing secured to said frame, compression springs mounted on said webbing, and a rod resiliently suspended from said frame and having a portion extending thru openings in said webbing and contacting the underside thereof and being disposed directly beneath said compression springs.

4. In upholstery of the character described, a frame, a one piece webbing secured to said frame ,and a rod resiliently suspended from said frame and having a portion extending thru openings in said webbing and contacting the underside therethe level of the underside ci' said frame.

5. In upholstery of the character described, a seat frame, webbing secured thereto, and means including a rod resiliently suspended from said trame for lifting an intermediate portion of said webbing above the level of the underside of said frame, and means for attaching a portion of said webbing to the inner side oi' said frame at a point above the underside oi said frame. and below the normal level of said rod.

- 6. In upholstery oi the character described.-a frame. a one piece webbing secured to said frame, compression springs mounted on said webbing. a member contacting the underside of the webbing, a spring member normally having an upward tension on the upper side oi' said webbing attachedtosaidframeandbeingconnectedtosaid first member, one of said members extending throughanopeninginsaidwebbingwherebyan'l sacos cured at substantially the entire margin thereof directly to said frame adjacent the lower edge of the latter, coil foundation springs on said webbing, means disposed beneath and engaging a portion of the webbing inward of said margin thereof and movable therewith. and flexible means disposed above said webbing, connected to a portion o! the frame above said lower edge, and to said first means to aid in supporting weight imposed on said webbing.

8. In upholstery construction. a frame having upstanding walls, a one-piece, textilefabric webbing secured at substantially the entire margin thereof to the frame adjacent the bottom edge of the latter, an elongated member lying against and `contacting a portion of the underside of said webbing spaced fromV any marginal edge of said y webbing and movable therewith as said webbing ilexes in opposite directions. and a flexible member disposed above the webbing and between the walls of the frame and being connected to a portion of the frame above the level of the webbing and also connected to said first member to aid in supporting weight imposed on the webbing. one of said members extending through said webbing'.

9. In upholstery construction. a frame. a one piece flexible fabric webbing entirely covering the frameopening, the marginal edges of said webbing coinciding with and being attached directly to said frame adjacent the lower edge of the latter. coil foundation springs on said webbing,

and means for supporting an intermediate portion of theA webbing inward of all its marginal edges to aid in supporting weight imposed on said foundation springs and prevent excessive sagging, said means including an intermediate portion disposed beneath the mid-portion of the webbing,

and flexible portions extending from said intermediate portion. disposed above the webbing and secured to opposite walls of the frame at a subv stantial distance above said webbing.

l0. In upholstery construction of the character described, a frame, a one-piece webbing secured to the underside of said frame, a straight member lying against and-contacting the underside of said webbing. and a resilient member disposed on the upper side of said webbing and being connected to said rst member and'to the upper side of said A frame, one of said members extending through said webbing for connection to the other. l

i1. In upholstery construction, a frame, a one-` piece webbing secured at the margin thereof to the lower edge of said frame, a pair of members 1 contacting the underside of said webbing inwardly of the margin of said webbing, a member'transverse to said first two members and contacting the same, and resilient means attached at one end to the upper vedge of the fiame and disposed above the webbing, said resilient means being at' tached at the other end thereof to said transverse member for exerting a' yielding upward pressure on said webbing.

l2. In upholstery construction, a frame having front, rear and en d vertical walls and supported on legs, a one-piece textilefabric webbing secured atvthe margin thereof directly to the underside of said frame. a plurality of foundation springs mounted on said webbing, means fortying the upper ends of said foundation springs to said frame, means engaging said webbing at a portion thereof spaced inwardly of the frame walls and movable therewith, and exible means disposed between the walls of the frame and above the webbing and anchored to the upper portion of the frame and engaging said first means to provide an auxiliary support for weight imposed upon the'foundation springs.

ALBERT M. BANK. 

